Dew factor likely to impact 3rd ODI

The toss may be crucial in the third one-dayer at the PCA stadium in Mohali between India and Australia as the dew factor is likely come into play.

"The dew was very heavy till yesterday. We are taking measures to minimise the dew, but we cannot eliminate it altogether. We will use a vetting agent and do the cutting once more. We have stopped watering. During the match, for which we have already spoken to match officials, a rope will be used (to clear the dew) at the fall of every wicket in the second innings," PCA curator Daljit Singh said on Friday.

Asked if dew could play spoilsport, he said, "It is heavy, let us see how it is tomorrow. If it is windy, then dew will be very less. If it is cloudy, then there will be no dew. But if it is a clear day, then dew will be heavy, that is the phenomenon."

PCA president IS Bindra and secretary MP Pandove said the association has taken every step to ensure that the effect of dew is minimised, besides fogging was being done to keep away the mosquitoes and other insects.

Daljit did not hazard a guess on what should be a good score on the Mohali track, by saying, "It is not my business to comment on the number of runs, it is the player who makes them, curators only do their job."

However, Bindra said that 280 may be on, but 360 looks unlikely here. He also said that one can expect the ball to move here late in the afternoon.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had a long chat with Daljit while coach Duncan Fletcher too had a keen look at the wicket.

Asked what transpired in the long chat between him and Dhoni, Daljit said, "He is my old friend. I used to play for Bihar and he also started his career by playing for Bihar, so we go a long way back."

"The mature captains or coaches never instruct the curators, they basically talk about things like dew, when was the last match played here and how many runs were scored and things like that," he added.

Asked if Dhoni was happy after having a look at the wicket, Singh quipped, "He looked happy."

Asked if the traditionally bouncy nature of the Mohali wicket is likely to suit the Australian bowlers more, he said, "See the record at Mohali, the team which has played better cricket has won here. India has been doing quite well here both in one-day and Test cricket."

"It's not just now, as a tradition since the first match was played here in 1993, we have always had generous grass on our pitches and that is how this wicket is," he said.

Daljit informed that Saturday's match will be played on one of the pitches used in last month's Champions League Twenty20.

The incident happened in the 29th over and Jadeja was found to have breached Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to 'using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match'.

Rohit Sharma hammered only the third double century in ODIs as India defeated Australia by 57 runs in the seventh and final ODI to win a bilateral series over the visitors for the first time since 1986.

India will yet again rely on their batting firepower as they seek to clinch the one-day series against an equally-determined Australia when the two teams clash in the seventh and final match on Saturday in what promises to be another high-scoring thriller.